Northwest grad gets her Day in the sun

University of Portland junior to play for U.S. Virgin Islands national team

Former NCAA wrestling All-American Kelly Ward, a two-time state champion in the 1970s at Kennedy, demonstrates a move with Blake 171-pounder Edwin Callender during the MSWL's weekly clinic Thursday at Blake.

On Thursday, during a clinic at the second annual Maryland Summer Wrestling League at Blake High, 53-year-old Kennedy wrestling legend Kelly Ward told nearly 100 youth and high school wrestlers that the most important aspect of the sport is mental toughness.

"I was obsessed with wrestling," Ward told the contingent. "We used to drive to Brighton Dam to train for the psychology of it, to make our minds tough. On hot summer days, I'd turn the [car] heat on high, close the windows, drive, get out, run 2.5 miles and go back. All a couple times a week and sometimes in rubber sweats."

Rubber sweats are illegal now, but dedication is not.

In its second year of existence, MSWL has picked up where it left off. Weekly clinics and league dual matches have provided a close-to-home learning opportunity for more than 100 grapplers of all ages and abilities.

"This is fantastic idea," Ward said. "The kids get instruction and a couple matches each night. Kind of like a mini-season for next fall."

Added Blake junior 171-pounder Edwin Callender: "I just started wrestling as a freshman, and summer wrestling is important to get to my goal of being a state champion. So it was an honor for [Ward] to demonstrate all his moves on me. He showed us a lot of good stuff that we can take to the mat."

Meanwhile, more experienced wrestlers are just looking for an excuse to roll around.

"It's a good opportunity for me to get mat time," said Quince Orchard junior and state qualifier Gage Neubaum, who will wrestle between 119 and 130 in the winter. "I go to a lot of tournaments over the summer, but the clinics are always helpful for the younger guys, since they can take it to the mat right after."

Arguably the greatest wrestler the state of Maryland has ever produced, Ward recorded an unblemished record (90-0) in high school, including two state championships in the early 1970s at Kennedy. He won another at Blair Academy (N.J.), where he transferred to finish high school. He went on to earn All-American honors and an NCAA national title at Iowa State University.

"To have a guy like Kelly come is just amazing," Blake head coach and league director Rob Pinsky said. "All these guys here are trying to get better. With the economy and everything, camp participation is down, so we are happy we can offer something affordable."

For 53, Ward is in remarkable shape. The former Secret Service agent was a member of Vice President Dick Cheney's security team.

As he worked up a sweat and provided his expertise to the campers, a passerby would have never guessed he nearly lost his life two years ago.

On July 19, 2008, he proved to be vulnerable. While vacationing with his family in Ocean City, Ward became temporarily paralyzed and nearly drowned. While body surfing, an unusually strong wave lifted him 6 feet into the air and dropped him on his head.

"I was dead for 6 to 8 minutes," Ward said. "There is an afterlife. I saw it. ... There isn't a day that goes by that I don't wake up and say, Look at what God gave us.'"